• shinpan seminar and kata seminar requirements are waived for 3dan and 4dan applicants
  • note: they will be required starting April 2024 for all 3dan and above applicants, including kodansha and shogo
• the shinsa is open only to SCKF members
• no announcing of participant numbers
• no tsubazeriai (see AJKF video). Participants should wakare on their own; if not, tachiai will call wakare.
• COVID-19 protocols:
  • participants must provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID test, handled by each dojo. Dojo shall list any unvaccinated in its sign up form, and shall coordinate proof of negative test to present at the door.
    • preferred testing is PCR test administered within 3 days of the shinsa, or an antigen test that is EUA-approved for single test screening (such as this one, currently under $7 per test) administered within 1 day of the shinsa
    • all examiners and volunteers must be fully vaccinated
  • everyone must be masked while indoors
  • everyone must pass symptom checklist at the door
  • see full COVID-19 protocols for symptom checklist and other attestations

The above overrides any notes below that were left in place for informational purposes.

• cover letter must be signed by dojo head instructor (please use it as a check list for requirements)
• dojo application forms have been uploaded to each dojo's google drive "from_sckf" folder
• forms must include height/weight and requested rank for each participant
  • "X" indicates a kenshi is not eligible to test at this shinsa
  • however, please note that the absence of an "X" does not guarantee the kenshi is eligible. Please review the shinsa regulations for eligiblity rules, for example under 8 years old cannot request 6kyu.
  • even if a kenshi is technically eligible, that does not mean they are ready to test. Head instructors please review the testing criteria.
• names will appear on menjo as they appear on the application form
  If you wish to make any name changes, a special request needs to be made to AUSKF, as they will be confirming kenshi names and membership status. Please clearly note any such change requests on your application form when submitting it.
• SCKF membership deadline was 12/31

• no late applicants allowed!
• 1kyu through 4dan applicants: turn in your completed written tests at sign-in

• 2-person rei procedure for yudansha applicants
• kihon test for 4kyu applicants

• 4kyu applicants shall demonstrate kendo basics with a motodachi (see kihon test)
• all applicants requesting 3kyu and above shall perform kendo jitsugi for their examination; grading will be based on the official SCKF ranking criteria
• 4dan applicants shall perform kirikaeshi (striking and receiving), in addition to kendo jitsugi
• 6kyu and 5kyu applicants test at the dojo, not at the shinsa

• rules for requesting ranks (see promotion regulations and recommended skill levels for full details):

  rank   min age   min time in practice
  ----   -------   ---------------------------------------------------
  6kyu      8       6 months practice
  5kyu      9       6 months practice as 6kyu or 6 months practice
  4kyu     10       6 months practice as 5kyu or 12 months practice
  3kyu     11       6 months practice as 4kyu
  2kyu     12       6 months practice as 3kyu
  1kyu     13       6 months practice as 2kyu
  1dan     14       6 months practice as 1kyu
  2dan      -      12 months practice as 1dan
  3dan      -      24 months practice as 2dan
  4dan      -      36 months practice as 3dan

  • all applicants must be in full bogu
  • "minimum time in practice" assumes the kenshi is practicing regularly, eg keiko at least once or twice per week
  • 6-month interval is useful for catching up ranks if a shinsa is missed; the more typical interval is 12 months between ranks

• written tests are required for everyone requesting 1kyu and above.
  • see the AUSKF written tests (pdf)
  • tests must be turned in at sign-in time
  • tests must include name, participant number, requested rank, and dojo
  • tests must be submitted in English only

• each applicant requesting 1 kyu or higher must be prepared to perform kata in front of the board of examiners. Note: #8 through #10 use the kodachi (short sword).
  • 1 kyu: #1 through #3
  • 1 dan: #1 through #5
  • 2 dan: #1 through #7
  • 3 dan: #1 through #10
  • 4 dan: #1 through #10

• in addition to the above summary, each applicant requesting 6kyu through 2kyu must perform kihon kata (bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon waza keiko ho), performed at the dojo, not at the shinsa.
  • 6kyu: kihon 1-2
  • 5kyu: kihon 1-4
  • 4kyu: kihon 1-6
  • 3kyu: kihon 1-9
  • 2kyu: kihon 1-9
  See the kihon kata link for the verbal commands used to conduct the test.

• see other shinsa testing notes below

• $20 kyu (both youth and adults, at dojo and at shinsa)
• $30 1dan
• $40 2dan
• $45 3dan
• $50 4dan

SCKF also charges a $20 "no show" (failure to participate) fee that will be assessed to the dojo if their kenshi signed up but is unable to participate in the shinsa (includes cancellation less than 7 days prior to the shinsa, as well as missing sign in).

• 8:00am: court set up by shinsa personnel
• 8:45am: start sign-in
  • you must be dressed in keikogi and hakama and bring your tare when you sign in
    • a label with your participant number will be applied to the center flap of your tare (remove your nafuda)
    • note: keikogi and hakama should not show markings (eg dojo patch, team logo, or slogans). If present, they will be taped over.
  • those testing for 1kyu and above must turn in completed written tests at sign-in (see written test notes)
  • plan to arrive early so you can complete sign-in well before it closes
  • follow the directions of the sign in team for when and where warm ups will be allowed
  • applicants requesting 6kyu and 5kyu test at the dojo, not at the shinsa
• 9:30am: sign-in closes all divisions
  • if you are late you will not be able to participate in the shinsa, plus there will be an additional fee
• 10:00am: start kendo portion of shinsa
• 12:00pm: start kata portion of shinsa
• 01:00pm: end shinsa

Shinsa officials: see duty schedule

• see sample evaluation forms for both kendo and kata
• kendo
  • be at your court BEFORE your division starts. Even if you signed in before the deadline, if you are not in place before your division performs opening rei, you will not be allowed to participate.
  • follow the instructions of the tachiai on your court
  • each applicant for 4kyu will demonstrate basic skills (kihon test) with a motodachi provided by SCKF (you will be in full bogu, which you must put on by yourself)
  • each applicant for 3kyu and above will perform kendo jitsugi with two other applicants requesting the same rank (time 60 seconds for kyu, 90 seconds for dan)
  • for 1dan and above, use the 2-person rei procedure to begin and end jitsugi
  • each applicant for 4dan will also do kirikaeshi at the beginning of each jitsugi, once striking and once receiving
  • remain at your court until all participants in your division finish testing, at which time your division will perform closing rei
  • for those requesting 1kyu and above ranks: after your division is done, stay together near your court The kendo test results will be tallied and announced by the shinsa coordinator, who will then record the participant numbers for kata partners.
    • only those who have passed the kendo portion will perform kata
    • if you lack a kata partner, you will be paired with someone who also lacks a partner
    • if there is an odd number of kenshi, one kenshi will do kata twice (the second performance does not count)
    • if you are absent when the kata pairings are recorded, you will be assigned a partner
• kendo kata
  • kata pairings will be recorded at the completion of kendo jitsugi (see kendo section above)
  • you will have at least 15 minutes to practice prior to the kata test
    • each applicant must be able to perform both the uchidachi and shidachi roles
    • uchidachi/shidachi roles will be randomly assigned (you will be notified when your turn comes on the court)
  • if you make a mistake performing one of the kata, you may request to redo it. After finishing the entire kata sequence and performing closing reiho, make your request (specifying which one kata you wish to redo) to the tachiai, who will pass on your request to the examiners. The examination board shall not request any repeats.
  • if you do not pass the kata portion of the exam, you may retake the kata test once. This must be done within a 12-month period to avoid retaking the kendo jitsugi and written test portions of the shinsa (see promotion regulations. You will need to pay the normal shinsa application fee. Be sure to specify on your dojo's application form that you are taking only the kata portion of the test.

• notation: E=examiners, C=court coordinator/announcer/timer, T=tachiai

   time   ECT  description
  ------  ---  -----------------------------------------------------------
   8:00    CT  set up (courts, dressing area, sign in, etc)
   8:15    CT  coordinator and tachiai meeting
   8:45    CT  start sign in, collect written exams, tape kendogi markings
   8:45   E    examiners meeting
   9:30    CT  close sign in
   9:35   ECT  court meetings: adjust groups for absences, all divisions
  10:00   ECT  start shinsa
  11:30   ECT  short break
  12:00   ECT  start kata
  

• Everyone please read the duty notes for a brief summary of everyone's duties
• Examiners:
  Please wear coat and tie (not identical to shinpan uniform)
  Abe T (LOS), Arima K (STYO), Chang S (COV), Chinen Katsuo (GED), Hosokawa Y (CM), Kaneshiro W (VAL), Kato T (COV), Kikunaga H (SD), Shikai M (CHUO), Tew T (IS), Yamasaki J (PCI)
  Please review the SCKF promotion regulations, shinsa criteria, and evaluation sheet samples
• Shinsa officials:
  Please wear slacks and a plain polo or dress shirt, or keikogi/hakama
  Fu L (NOR), Kodama J (NOR), Shikai Y (CHUO)
• Court coordinators/timers:
  Please wear slacks and a plain polo or dress shirt, or keikogi/hakama
  Dong A (CM), Inouye J (VEN)
• Tachiai:
  Please wear keikogi and hakama
  Kawai K (JCI), Towata N (VAL), Villalona J (STYO), Wellichinda I (STYO), Yamammoto D (SS), Yoo P (CHUO)
• Motodachi for 4kyu kihon test:
  Please wear keikogi/hakama and bring bogu
  Huang M (CHUO), Inada C (CHUO), Kim K (CHUO)
  Note: after 4kyu test is done, please change for bento pick up and bagging

Onegaishimasu!